Quote:
Originally Posted by jacksonianmarch
The Yankees had a problem like that last yr. We were 6-36 when we scored 3 runs or less. This yr, we have already won 4 games when scoring 3 runs or less. I think alot of that has to do with luck and with pen management.
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Yeah, but you were 12-49 when scoring four runs or fewer...that's a .197 W/L Pct, whereas Boston's is .167 in games with four or fewer runs scored thus far.
I'd suggest that bullpen management is the critical factor, with bench management an auxiliary factor. Boston's bench has been crap for a couple of reasons thus far:
1) Influenza
2) David Ortiz: he's blocking the DH spot when playing and, right now, clogging the bench with a player who cannot take the field.
The bullpen has been a challenge because, in large part, Tito has used struggling pitchers, especially Timlin, in crucial roles. Here are the Boston relief pitchers listed in declining order of leverage index (criticality) of their appearances:
1. Jonathan Papelbon 1.75
2. Craig Hansen 1.66*
3. Hideki Okajima 1.63
4. Mike Timlin 1.36
5. Kyle Snyder 1.28*
6. Javier Lopez 1.19
7. Manny Delcarmen 0.95
8. David Aardsma 0.93
9. Bryan Corey 0.89
10. Julian Tavarez 0.28
* Small sample size (1-2 games)
Timlin has sucked from his first appearance: he shouldn't be right behind Okajima as the "go-to" guy when his ERA is in the four-digit range.